Chapter 261: Second Master!!
The Sunlight Life Wheel Array absorbed the life force of the entire city once more, bursting with radiant divine light. The rapidly swirling divine runes became orderly and steady again. However, with Feng Lingxiao's continuous attacks and the joint assaults from the demon kings within the demonic tide, the array shook repeatedly. Each attack consumed a tremendous amount of life force.
This life force was the lifeblood of the city's populace. Once the array absorbed a certain amount, it would cease to draw more, marking its limit.
Li Tiangang suddenly turned, his gaze fixed on the God General's Mansion. Seeing the golden streaks of ancestors' souls rushing forward, he immediately recognized them. The Li family's ancestors were heading out to battle once more. Tears filled his eyes, and he felt a deep sense of shame.
"Child, let me assist you," said a kindly voice. An ancestor's soul flew towards Li Tiangang.
Looking at the familiar face, Li Tiangang remembered this ancestor as the 21st generation, a mighty figure who had once perished along with six demon kings on the frontier.
"Unfilial descendant begs for your aid, Ancestor!" Li Tiangang suppressed his grief and spoke.
The kind old man smiled, his figure transforming into golden flames that enveloped Li Tiangang. With newfound strength flowing through him, Li Tiangang's bronze ancient blade blazed with divine power. His eyes, no longer clouded with sorrow, gleamed with resolute killing intent. He signaled to his wife, Ji Qingqing, to keep Feng Lingxiao at bay.
Ji Qingqing's Taiyuan Sword, a sacred treasure, could counteract the domain. She and Li Muxiu were the only ones capable of fighting against the domain.
"Fourth Uncle, let's take care of the other demon kings!" Li Tiangang called to Li Xiaoran.
Li Xiaoran glanced at him, noting the ancestor soul cloak he wore. His mind briefly flashed to the image of the young man who had once fought valiantly in the Nether River, wearing the remnant soul of Ancestor Li Tianyuan. His heart ached, and his fist clenched. Without responding to Li Tiangang, he turned and charged towards the other demon kings.
Not long after Li Xiaoran set out, another ancestor's soul caught up and merged with him. Li Xiaoran's power surged, but since he was already in the Absolute Learning Realm, the enhancement was limited to providing relentless energy, akin to an unyielding soul force.
"Die!!" Li Xiaoran roared, not wasting the ancestor's soul power. His eyes reddened as he rampaged through the battlefield, slicing through four or five demon kings and slaying one of them with his peerless martial technique, the Transcendent Blade.
The demon king's soul tried to escape, but Li Xiaoran's second slash ripped it apart, killing it instantly. Within moments, a demon king had fallen.
Other demon kings were shocked and furious. The God General's Mansion's Transcendent Blade Saint was too ferocious, on par with their grand elder.
"I'll handle this!" A figure from the Sacred Palace, bathed in green light, emerged, revealing a massive peacock true form. It spread its tail, releasing a unique soul attack that momentarily dazed Li Xiaoran.
"Wake up!" The ancestor soul inhabiting him shouted.
Li Xiaoran snapped back, evading a sharp peacock feather tipped with purple lightning. He slashed at the peacock demon king, his blade lights cutting through space and landing with unerring accuracy.
Feathers flew, and deep wounds marred the peacock's chest. It retreated, blood spilling, eyes filled with disbelief.
"Die!!" Li Xiaoran roared, utilizing the ancestor soul's energy for relentless attacks. The peacock demon king, terrified, struggled to defend itself. Other demon kings dared not engage directly with Li Xiaoran, knowing they couldn't withstand his attacks.
Li Tiangang and Li Xiaoran's combined assault forced the demon tide to falter, creating a bloody gap in its advance.
In the midst of the chaos, Feng Lingxiao continued his relentless assault on the divine array. Despite Ji Qingqing's efforts to counteract, the array's life force was depleting rapidly.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure sped toward them. It was Li Qingzheng, eyes bloodshot, roaring as he charged at Feng Lingxiao.
"Begone!" Feng Lingxiao's face darkened. He had seen Li Xiaoran and Li Qingzheng slaughter demon kings, filling him with rage and urgency. The array, like a stubborn shell, remained unbroken.
Li Qingzheng's attack was easily dismantled by Feng Lingxiao's domain. Frustrated and realizing his futility, Li Qingzheng turned to another battlefield where Li Muxiu struggled against Dragon Jueshen.
But the true fight was outside the array, at the forefront of the demon tide.
"Let's kill those demon kings first!" Li Xiaoran roared, slashing relentlessly. Each strike of his Transcendent Blade tore through space, gravely wounding demon kings.
Li Qingzheng joined the fray, slaughtering demons alongside his brother. The duo, reinforced by ancestor souls, pushed the demon tide back, carving a bloody path through their ranks.
Feng Lingxiao noticed this and furiously abandoned his assault on the array to pursue Li Xiaoran and Li Qingzheng.
The array's brief respite allowed it to stabilize. Ji Qingqing, relieved, continued her efforts, knowing her role was to delay Feng Lingxiao.
"Be careful, he's coming!" Li Qingzheng warned as Feng Lingxiao approached.
Li Xiaoran, eyes narrowed, shouted, "Retreat!"
They swiftly moved, dodging attacks and retreating to the safety of the array. When Feng Lingxiao attacked, they were already behind the protective barrier.
"Break the array, and we'll kill your demon subordinates!" Li Xiaoran's eyes blazed with killing intent.
Their tactic of luring Feng Lingxiao to attack had worked, and they had slain several demon kings in the process.
"You will die!!" Feng Lingxiao, seething, vowed to spill Li family blood once the array was down.
"We are not afraid of death!" Li Qingzheng's eyes were cold, releasing his long-restrained bloodthirst.
Feng Lingxiao commanded the surrounding demon kings to join him in breaking the array. With his domain's protection, Li Xiaoran and the others couldn't harm them.
Li Xiaoran and Li Qingzheng, realizing their attacks were futile, shifted their strategy. They emerged from another section of the array and targeted the demon tide, swiftly cutting through their ranks.
Ji Qingqing, seeing their actions, followed Feng Lingxiao closely, ready to counter his next move.
Feng Lingxiao, angered but focused, resumed his assault on the array. The demon tide, meanwhile, faced devastating losses as Li Xiaoran and Li Qingzheng rampaged through them.
In the eastern Huai River secret passage, Li family reinforcements arrived. Among them were Li Qingling and Li Xueyun, who had fought in Liangzhou. They quickly assessed the dire situation and joined the battle, bolstered by ancestor souls.
The battlefield outside the array saw the Li family gaining the upper hand. The demonic tide was pushed back, their wails echoing as they fell.
Inside the city, civilians watched in awe as the Li family's golden ancestor souls fought valiantly. Elderly residents recognized the spirits and wept with gratitude, knowing their ancestors were protecting them.
Boom! Boom! Feng Lingxiao's assaults on the array continued, but it held firm. He grew increasingly frustrated, especially as the demon tide suffered heavy losses.
On a distant mountain, two shadowy figures observed the battle. The air around them stilled, heavy with dread.
"A bunch of useless fools. Even with sacred treasures, they can't break the array," the first figure, a cold-eyed woman with purple vine-like markings, sneered.
"The Li family's foundation is indeed deep. The Sunlight Life Wheel Array is both ingenious and ruthless, converting life force into power. It's formidable," remarked the second figure, a black-robed youth with indifferent red eyes.
"The Li family produced many prodigies over the centuries. Their potential is frightening," the woman continued, a hint of envy in her voice.
"A millennium ago, when the immortal gates opened, their best talents left for the Holy Realm. Even now, their remnants are powerful. This race has unparalleled potential, which is why they're the most saint-producing lineage," the youth mused.
"They've left their souls to guard this land. If we waited decades, attacking the God General's Mansion wouldn't be so hard. But a damnable prodigy in Liangzhou forced our hand, disrupting our century-long plans. Now we must act sooner," the youth sighed, knowing the high cost of their premature actions.
"The Li family's ancestors have sensed our presence. Let's end this quickly. The Ancient Demon Hall won't hold much longer, and reinforcements for the Li family are numerous. These ancient families have deep roots," the youth stated.
The woman, disgusted by Feng Lingxiao's brute force approach, raised her hand. A purple mark on her face extended to her fingertips, forming a deep purple light.
"Useless idiots," she muttered, sending the light streaking across the battlefield. It silently pierced the array just as Feng Lingxiao struck with his tower.
Ji Qingqing's sword deflected some of the power, but the array's runes faltered, then ceased entirely. The divine barrier shattered.
Ji Qingqing's eyes widened in shock. Feng Lingxiao, momentarily surprised, quickly seized the opportunity, smashing the array with renewed vigor.
Boom!!
The protective array covering Qingzhou City shattered abruptly, breaking into pieces and leaving everyone in shock. Li Xiaoran, Li Tiangang, and others, who were engaged in fierce battles with the demonic tide, froze, staring in disbelief at the fading divine light.
"The array is broken!!"
The demon kings around Feng Lingxiao erupted in joyous cheers. "Finally, that damned barrier is down!"
"Kill!"
One demon king immediately raised a hand, unleashing a scorching wave of heat into the city, incinerating half a street in an instant.
Feng Lingxiao's eyes, initially filled with joy, quickly turned into a murderous rage. His gaze fell upon Ji Qingqing, who had been persistently obstructing his efforts to break the array. "You, die!!"
His domain swept out, and he wielded the sacred heart treasure, channeling its immense power towards Ji Qingqing. Her face drained of color, but just then, a figure rushed in, shouting, "Run!!"
Li Tiangang, in a moment of desperation, pushed Ji Qingqing aside and turned to face the overwhelming force. With a roar, he unleashed his Fate Defiance power. The searing flames that should have engulfed him abruptly lost their intensity. Feng Lingxiao, in an unexpected twist, spat out blood; his previous injuries had resurfaced at this critical moment, forcing him to pull back.
His once handsome face turned ashen. The continuous exertion from using the sacred heart treasure had taken its toll. Hastily consuming a divine medicine to suppress his injuries, Feng Lingxiao watched in frustration as Li Tiangang escaped his domain, taking Ji Qingqing with him towards the God General's Mansion.
"Damn it!" Feng Lingxiao cursed. Unsure if his sudden relapse was due to exhaustion or the unpredictable Fate Defiance power, he dared not chase Li Tiangang further. This mysterious power could create unforeseen "accidents" that defied logic, making even a Tai Ping Dao Realm expert cautious.
"Now, it's your turn to pay!!" Feng Lingxiao turned his furious gaze towards Li Xiaoran and Li Qingzheng, who had been slaughtering demon kings and demonic troops.
Li Xiaoran's face turned grim, and Li Qingzheng's expression grew serious. They couldn't understand why the array had suddenly shattered; it seemed capable of holding for a while longer.
"Die!" Feng Lingxiao charged at them.
"Run!" Li Xiaoran shouted. Facing a Tai Ping Dao Realm expert wielding a sacred heart treasure head-on would be suicide. The only option was to flee, to buy time.
The brothers, without exchanging a word, split up and darted in opposite directions.
Meanwhile, inside the city, the demonic tide surged in as the array fell. They clashed with the soldiers on the walls, and the demon kings spread chaos within the city.
Ge Jianlan, Gao Qingqing, Li Xuanli, and others, bearing ancestor souls, fought fiercely against the demonic tide. While they could hold their own against demon kings, they were still at a disadvantage compared to true four-lineage realm demon kings.
Boom!
Li Xuanli was pursued by a Fate Defiance Realm demon king, who sent him flying with a slap. The impact destroyed buildings, killing residents hiding within. Spitting blood, Li Xuanli roared and fought back with the ancestor soul, but was steadily pushed back.
Across the city, battles erupted everywhere.
"The demons are inside the city..."
"The city is falling!!"
The residents, peering from their windows, were filled with the long-forgotten terror of a thousand years of peace as they saw giant demon kings clashing above.
Inside the city, Li family troops fought the demonic tide. The chaos was overwhelming, and many demons bypassed the frontline, wreaking havoc and killing civilians.
Li Wushuang and Li Yuanzhao split up to deal with the demons wreaking havoc inside the city. But as the battle dragged on, more demons poured in, and even the elite Yuan Regiment couldn't hold the line.
On Tangu Academy's mountain peak, Song Yufeng looked down at the beleaguered city, his face filled with sorrow. Behind him stood the teachers and students of Tangu Academy, including his granddaughter.
"I teach martial arts at Tangu Academy, but more importantly, I teach humanity!"
Turning to face the teachers and students, Song Yufeng, his sadness replaced by steely resolve, asked, "Demons are attacking the city, and the people are in peril. Will you, disciples of Tangu Academy, fight for the people?"
"Fight!!"
"Fight!!"
The students roared in unison.
Song Yufeng's eyes shone with pride as he nodded. "Then follow me. Let's go and slay the demons!"
Leading the charge, he soared down towards the city. The teachers followed, and the students, whether by flying or running, rushed towards the battleground.
Among them, some outer court disciples of the Tongli Realm hesitated, hiding in fear. But most pressed on, determined to join the fray.
In a clear pond at the mountain's peak, waves suddenly surged as a cerulean water qilin emerged, its icy aura following as it charged towards the battlefield.
At the entrance to the God General's Mansion, Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing turned to see the demonic tide swarming the walls, engaging the soldiers. Amidst the chaos, many demons infiltrated the city, destroying and killing wantonly.
The once-prosperous Qingzhou City, known for its grandeur since childhood, now lay in flames and ruin. The scene of demons rampaging and civilians fleeing was a stark contrast to its former glory.
Who could save them all?
Lost in thought, Li Tiangang was brought back by Ji Qingqing's voice. "Tiangang, you must take command. I'll fight the demons!"
With a resolute look, she charged towards the demon kings in the city, her Taiyuan Sword ready.
Clearing his head, Li Tiangang rushed into the God General's Mansion, determined to gather the Li family bloodlines arriving through the Huai River secret passage and prepare for a final stand.
At the city walls, Feng Lingxiao pursued Li Qingzheng relentlessly, closing the gap.
"Stop!!"
Li Xiaoran, blending his blade techniques with his movements, saw Feng Lingxiao ignoring him to chase Li Qingzheng.
"Run, old five!!" Li Xiaoran yelled.
Seeing Feng Lingxiao closing in, Li Qingzheng's face hardened, but he quickly regained his composure. Instead of heading into the city, he charged into the demonic tide. With no escape, he chose to kill as many demons as he could.
"Looks like we'll end this together, big brother," Li Qingzheng said.
Li Xuan, his spirit attached to Li Qingzheng, sighed, "Yes, but it's a shame we couldn't take down two more demon kings. We can only settle for these minions."
"Next time, if there is one," Li Qingzheng replied, diving into the demonic tide, creating a bloody trench.
Feng Lingxiao arrived, swinging the Sacred Heart treasure, intending to crush Li Qingzheng's soul entirely.
But suddenly, a terrifying punch force knocked the tower off course. Li Muxiu, drenched in blood, had arrived. His robe was tattered, his muscles seemed torn, and blood flowed from numerous wounds. His Sacred Heart treasure, a silk ribbon, was also stained red.
"Second Master!" Li Qingzheng, ready to accept death, was stunned to see Li Muxiu.
"Go! Reforge the ancestors' bodies with Old Four!" Li Muxiu coughed blood, quickly sending a mental message. "I'll hold them off!"
His face flushed, and blood surged uncontrollably. Hearing Li Xiaoran's call, he noticed Li Qingzheng's predicament and rushed over despite his injuries.
Seeing Li Muxiu's blood-soaked figure, Li Qingzheng's heart felt like it was about to burst. Tears welled up, but he didn't hesitate. Clenching his teeth, he dashed into the city.
"Second Master..." Li Xuan, attached to Li Qingzheng, felt a deep sorrow, knowing a half-step Dao Realm couldn't hold off two Tai Ping Dao Realms.
"You're not getting away!" Feng Lingxiao's domain spread, aiming to trap Li Qingzheng. But Li Muxiu's domain expanded, blocking it.
"What are you doing, Dragon Absolute God!!" Feng Lingxiao roared.
Dragon Absolute God, also arriving, was equally furious. Seeing Feng Lingxiao's rage, he redirected his anger towards Li Muxiu. As a Dao Realm, he hadn't managed to kill Li Muxiu, letting him escape, which was disgraceful!
Boom!
Dragon Absolute God unleashed the Ten Ultimate Sword, merging the split sword shadows into one ultimate strike towards Li Muxiu.
Li Muxiu roared, punching out. His half-step invincible fist combined with his domain, briefly creating an invincible domain, suppressing the ultimate sword strike.
But as the invincible state faded, the backlash made his face redder, and blood filled his eyes.
"Kill him!" Feng Lingxiao, seeing Li Muxiu's weakened state, attacked.
Together, they fought Li Muxiu, intensifying the battle. Initially, two against one, Li Muxiu had managed to hold on with the array's support. Now, both wielding Sacred Heart treasures, their killing power increased. Without the array, Li Muxiu struggled to defend against their combined assault.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Repeated strikes shattered the sky with thunderous booms, causing the city below to tremble with each blow. The entire battlefield seemed to be shaken by the intense combat.
The sight of the old figure, Li Muxiu, standing alone against two Tai Ping Dao Realm experts brought a profound sadness to the eyes of the Li family members. They could only watch from afar, unable to intervene. Their attacks were mere specks of dust against the overwhelming power of the domains.
Li Muxiu spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his already tattered robe. His internal energy surged and churned uncontrollably, seeping from his nose and ears. The relentless battle had drained his Undying Power; his weakened body was sustained solely by sheer willpower, pushing through the pain by shattering every major meridian in his body to keep fighting.
Blood seeped from his eyes, painting his vision red. Just as he tried to wipe it away, a sharp domain strike tore through, no longer held at bay by his invincible force. The combined pressure of the two domains thinned his own, allowing Dragon Absolute God's domain to break through suddenly.
With a sickening crack, Li Muxiu's arm was torn off, taking with it the blood-stained sleeve. The severed arm still clenched the sacred heart treasure, which Dragon Absolute God quickly sealed and stored away, sensing its rebellious spirit.
With a feral grin, Dragon Absolute God glared at Li Muxiu. "Now you're down to one arm, old dog. Your death is at hand!"
Li Muxiu struggled to stand, his body swaying. The blood flow from his stump had stopped, but there was no regeneration. He had no energy left to heal.
"One fist is enough. If I had reached the Dao Realm, one punch would be enough to kill you," Li Muxiu said, shaking his head slightly. He wiped the blood from his eyes, his face covered in gore, his body broken, but he stood tall in the sky.
"You've fought well for a half-step Dao Realm. But we won't let you die with honor. I'll crush you piece by piece before your family's eyes!" Feng Lingxiao's eyes were icy as he swung the towering sacred treasure.
Li Muxiu spun, his foot pivoting. With his remaining hand, he formed a fist and struck with all his might.
Boom!
In that instant, his domain seemed invincible. Though lacking a sacred weapon, his flesh-and-blood fist collided with the sacred tower. The impact sent Li Muxiu hurtling backward, yet he did not fall. He spat out another mouthful of blood.
Then, a razor-sharp sword strike cleaved through the domain, exploiting the brief lapse in his invincibility. It cut through his domain and slashed across his body.
Li Muxiu felt weightless, then a searing pain as his body was sliced in half, leaving only his arm attached to half his torso. The force of the blow flipped his body, sending him plummeting towards the ground.
All his remaining strength seemed to leave him.
As he looked up at the dawning sun, its rays piercing through the early morning sky, it felt blinding.
So tired...
Father always said I was the least capable... he was right...
I've disgraced our ancestors again...
A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he thought of his eldest brother, whose soul had dissipated at the Heavenly Gate Pass. His blood-filled eyes grew moist.
Images flashed through his mind like a lantern show: the woman he failed, a child fishing by the lake, and the old man Feng...
"Second Master!!!"
Suddenly, a thunderous cry roared from the distant sky, like a cascade of ten thousand thunders, shaking Qingzhou City. The voice seemed to shake the entire battlefield, echoing through the war-torn city, making it hum with resonance.